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Bodleian Library

Bodleian Library

Bodleian Library: Our most recommended tours and activities

London: Harry Potter Studio Tour and Oxford Day Trip

1. London: Harry Potter Studio Tour and Oxford Day Trip

Join a full-day bus trip from London which combines a trip to the Warner Bros Studio Tour 'The Making of Harry Potter' with a walking tour of Oxford University. Start your tour at the historic city of Oxford, home to England's oldest university. Enjoy a guided walking tour that takes you past famous college buildings, cloisters, quadrangles, and cobblestone squares. See the Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonian Theatre, and selected colleges. Enjoy free time to explore all that Oxford has to offer at your own pace. Continue to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour and begin your magical experience at The Making of Harry Potter. Discover behind-the-scenes secrets and hear about the filmmaking techniques used to make the magic of the Harry Potter films. Visit the most recognizable set features from the films: the Great Hall, Dumbledore’s office, the Gryffindor common room, the Ministry of Magic, 4 Privet Drive, the Weasley kitchen, Hogwarts Express, and Diagon Alley. Board the original Hogwarts Express train and see a recreation of Platform 9-3/4. Explore the interior train carriage set that was featured during filming and take a selfie with a luggage trolley as it disappears through the brick wall.

Oxford: University and City Walking Tour with Alumni Guide

2. Oxford: University and City Walking Tour with Alumni Guide

Step inside Oxford University and explore the grounds on a guided walking tour. Admire the iconic architecture and learn about university life from your student guide. Visit one of the university’s oldest colleges and the Bodleian Library. Learn about the history of the university colleges, including All Souls College, Trinity College, Oriel College, Hertford College, and Merton College, the Radcliffe Camera, and the University Church of St. Mary. Get an equally in-depth history of the town. Hear about ceremonies at Oxford, famous graduates, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and also how the most powerful Archbishop of Canterbury was burned at the stake in Oxford.

Oxford: University and City Walking Tour

3. Oxford: University and City Walking Tour

Join a university-educated guide, with years of experience and local knowledge of Oxford City and colleges. See the dreamy spires of one of the oldest universities in the world on a guided walking tour. Go inside some of the city’s most historic colleges, such as New College, founded in 1379 and more recently seen in the Harry Potter films and television productions of Inspector Morse and Lewis. Visit Exeter College, founded in 1314, and another favorite on most tours. Stop by Hertford College, with its romantic façade and Bridge of Sighs, instantly recognizable from Brideshead Revisited. See the University Library and learn about the collegiate system unique to Oxford and Cambridge. Discover famous alumni who studied and taught at the university, including the infamous Dr Spooner, whose portraits hang in New College Dining Hall and whose name is given to the playful linguistic phenomenon of spoonerisms.

From London: Windsor, Oxford & Stonehenge Full-Day Trip

4. From London: Windsor, Oxford & Stonehenge Full-Day Trip

Windsor Castle Windsor Castle perches proudly on a lush wooded hill overlooking the Thames. Sweeping landscaped gardens and turreted Round Tower, it’s easy to see why it’s the King’s favourite weekend residence. Enjoy a fascinating through–the–keyhole peek at the lavish State Apartments, home to priceless artworks by Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci, and visit St. George’s Chapel, the atmospheric final resting place of former monarchs including Henry VIII. You can visit Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. Mysterious Stonehenge The true meaning of this ancient, awe-inspiring creation has been lost in the mists of time. Was Stonehenge a temple for sun worship, a healing centre, a burial site or perhaps a huge calendar? How did our ancestors manage to carry the mighty stones from so far away and then, using only the most primitive of tools, build this amazing structure? Surrounded by mystery, Stonehenge never fails to impress. Oxford Follow in the footsteps of Oxford’s famous students, from C.S. Lewis to Bill Clinton, as you stroll the captivating college courtyards and cobbled lanes of this historic university town. Take in the famous ‘city of dreaming spires’ and see the Bodleian Library – one of the oldest libraries in Europe – on your visit. You’ll be captivated by the unspoilt narrow alleys and ancient squares of this naturally beautiful town. Estimated arrival time back in London is around 7.00pm

Oxford: Harry Potter Walking Tour Including New College

5. Oxford: Harry Potter Walking Tour Including New College

Meet your Oxford University student guide in central Oxford and head for the Hogwarts' Infirmary, set in one of the halls of the famous Bodleian Library. Imagine the infirmary’s beds in place here, and admire the richly sculpted beasts and biblical carvings that appeared in many of the Harry Potter movies. Next, explore one or two of Oxford’s oldest colleges, delving into the rooms and cloisters that featured as Hogwarts’ gloomy interior. See other filming locations and hear trivia about the characters and movie productions. Test your knowledge of all things Harry Potter with our custom quiz. Along the way, hear about Oxford’s influence in famous children’s literature, from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to The Hobbit. Finish with a tour of the exterior of Christ Church, whose hall was an inspiration and not the actual Dining Hall at Hogwarts.

From London: Day Trip to Harry Potter Studios and Oxford

6. From London: Day Trip to Harry Potter Studios and Oxford

Take a day trip from London and journey towards Warner Bros. Studio to take "The Making of Harry Potter" tour. Located in former aircraft hangars in Leavesden, the attraction recreates the magic of Harry Potter and all your favourite characters. Then, visit Oxford and explore the Divinity School. Board the original "Hogwarts Express" train at a recreation of Platform 9¾, and explore the inside of the train carriage featured in the films. Take a selfie with a luggage trolley as it disappears through the station's brick wall. The studio staff will reveal the behind-the-scenes secrets and unveil the intricate prosthetics and make-up that transformed actors into creatures in blockbuster films. See sets from the original movies, and get a peek inside the college of Hogwarts during the 4-hour studio tour. Journey through attractions such as The Great Hall, Gryffindor Common, Hagrid's Hut, the Weasleys' kitchen, and the Ministry of Magic. Take a tour of the backlot and a special effects tour, see a model of Hogwarts Castle, and much more. Depart the Studios and journey to Oxford to explore the real college buildings, including the medieval Divinity School. Upon arrival in the university city founded in 1167, take a guided tour of the historical center and admire some of the most famous college buildings, cloisters, and quadrangles. Delve down alleyways and into chapels, look inside dining halls and across cobblestone squares under the shadows of the legendary "dreaming spires." Enter the hallowed heartland of academia, including the Bodleian Library, Radcliff Camera, Sheldonian Theatre, and other select colleges.

London: Oxford, Stratford, Cotswolds, and Warwick Day Trip

7. London: Oxford, Stratford, Cotswolds, and Warwick Day Trip

Make the most of your time in England with a day trip to the English countryside. Enjoy a walking tour of Oxford city and university including entry to the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, witness the scenery of the Cotswolds, enter Warwick Castle, and visit the birthplace of Shakespeare. Walking tour of Oxford Follow in the footsteps of Oxford's famous students, from C.S. Lewis to Bill Clinton, as you stroll the captivating college courtyards and cobbled lanes of this historic university town, on this guided day trip by bus from London. Take in the famous 'dreaming spires' and see the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe. Be captivated by the unspoiled narrow alleys and ancient squares of this naturally beautiful town. Oxford is famous for being home to the oldest university in the English-speaking world – countless bright young things have wandered the town’s cobbled streets over the years! During this guided walking tour you will see the stunning University Church of St Mary the Virgin and furtively discover unspoiled narrow alleyways, ancient squares, and towering spires. Entry to the 13th-century University Church of St Mary the Virgin. Soak in spectacular sights of the unique baroque design and architecture as you explore the center of the University of Oxford. This absolute gem is a must-visit on your trip to Oxford. The Cotswolds Enjoy views of the breathtaking countryside, sleepy villages, and bustling market towns as you drive through the charming scenery of one of England's most beautiful regions. Stratford–upon–Avon  A unique market town, famous as the home of William Shakespeare, arguably the world's greatest writer. Visit the picturesque half-timber house where the legendary bard was born, and gain fascinating insights into his childhood. Shakespeare’s birthplace: See where the famous playwright grew up and spent his years as a married man. Warwick Castle  Be part of Britain’s greatest medieval experience deep in the heart of Warwick Castle. Immerse yourself in battle preparations and feel the weight of a medieval sword. Become a soldier – try on a battle helmet for size. Visit the spectacular State Rooms and feast your eyes on Victorian party preparations. Enjoy a meet and greet from a medieval host as well as an introduction to the spectacular castle.

London: Windsor, Oxford, and Stonehenge Tour

8. London: Windsor, Oxford, and Stonehenge Tour

Uncover the charms of picturesque Windsor, explore the academic centre of excellence that is Oxford, and marvel at ancient Stonehenge in its majestic grandeur on this full-day tour departing from London. Leave in the morning and drive to Windsor, a place awash with natural beauty. Discover the 17th-century historical monuments that line its cobbled streets. You can also choose the option to visit the home of King Charles III, the world’s largest and oldest castle. Later, make your way to Stonehenge, its rocks rising up against the skyline on Salisbury Hill. Was this mysterious site a temple, a clock, or a burial ground? Decide for yourself as you explore the landmark that has had the world stumped for 5,000 years. Finally, head to Oxford for a walking tour. Follow in the footsteps of the city's famous students, from C.S. Lewis to Bill Clinton, as you stroll the captivating courtyards and cobbled lanes of this historic university town. Take in the famous "city of dreaming spires" and see the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe, on your visit. Be captivated by the narrow alleys and ancient squares of this naturally beautiful town.

From London: Oxford and Cambridge Universities Tour

9. From London: Oxford and Cambridge Universities Tour

Explore the grounds of Oxford and Cambridg on guided walking tours with this full-day trip aboard a comfortable bus from London. Dive into the stories behind these institutions and hear your guide clearly with the provided headsets.  Hop aboard the spacious bus at Victoria Station and relax on the drive across the Chiltern Hills to Oxford, the 'City of Dreaming Spires,' whose hushed courtyards have inspired generations of scholars like Bill Clinton, Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Begin your guided walking tour and visit the Christ Church college, where Harry Potter scenes were filmed. See the Bodleian Library and the picture-perfect college courtyards for which Oxford is justifiably famous. Get back on the bus for the trip to Cambridge, a living city that has shaped history and today reflects the best of historic and contemporary life. Enter the grounds which inspired figures like Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, and many of the Monty Python group. See the magnificent Kings College on a guided walking tour. Stroll through a city filled with beautiful buildings and historical quirks, including the famous Bridge of Sighs. Return to Victoria Station in London at the end of your tour.

Oxford: Official University and City Walking Tour

10. Oxford: Official University and City Walking Tour

Explore Oxford, the city of Dreaming Spires, on a walking tour with an expert guide from the city’s tourism board. Be shown the city’s most famous sights, uncover its hidden history, and enjoy all the astonishing stories about Oxford's key characters- real and fictional. Meet your guide at the grand and very old Broad Street (once the city's ditch) let them know where you come from and any special Oxford interests you may have and they will do their best to incorporate those.  Go to Martyrs' Memorial, the scene of terrible religious retributions in medieval times, and on to the oldest tower at St Michael of the Northgate built in Saxon times. Then, make your way to the very heart of the University and the inspiration behind Harry Potter's Hogwarts School. Pass by the pubs where the Inklings used to meet to discuss their writing as well as the pubs where Inspector Morse was filmed and the most popular student drinking holes in days of old. Discover the city that is home to several of Britain's most famous literary characters - both fictional and real - such as JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, Philip Pullman, and Colin Dexter as well as some of their most famous creations like Lyra and Will, and Inspector Morse. Admire Oxford's stupendous architecture, gargoyles and grotesques, so wonderfully preserved from every historical period and style, and take a stroll through the breathtaking Radcliffe Square. Cross the whimsical Bridge of Sighs as it's fondly known, just like the ones in Venice and Cambridge. See the Bodleian Libraries from the outside in the splendid Old Schools Quadrangle. Learn about the city’s famous museums including the Museum of the History of Science, containing Einstein's blackboard, The Pitt Rivers, once home to shrunken heads, and the fabulous Ashmolean, which was one of the very first ever museums in the world. If time allows, walk as far as to the beautiful Christ Church Meadows, where punting happens and cattle graze; a truly pastoral and quintessential English scene.

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What people are saying about Bodleian Library

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 5,938 reviews

The day trip was absolutely worth it. The Harry Potter tour was outstanding and offers even non-fans a worthwhile experience at Warner Bros. Studios. The tour to Oxford was also first class as it covered all the colleges. Both the bus driver and the tour guide were extremely entertaining and made the trip a special experience.

The guide and driver were both very kind and fun people and it was fun! I think you'll enjoy it more if you understand English 😃

Jonathan was so knowledgeable and made the tour more fun and interesting. He was amazing! Would highly recommend!

Our guide was knowledgeable and funny! He made the experience really enjoyable.

This was an amazing tour! Billy was super knowledgeable and entertaining!